My aunt - the first female professor of Psychology

Writing about my beloved teacher is difficult because, with so many things to share and express my gratitude for, I don't know where or how to begin. Having been with her for nearly 10 years, I've progressed from admiration and affection to a conscious and unconscious immersion in many aspects of her life and work that she revealed through her daily stories.

One autumn many years ago, my teacher and I were preparing a lecture for a training program. Due to the tight schedule, she arranged for us to meet at her house on a weekend afternoon. Having stayed up late the night before, and then spent the morning rushing around dealing with personal matters, I was completely exhausted by the time I arrived. We sat in front of the computer, and while she explained what needed to be done, constantly typing, I… dozed off. About 15 minutes later, when my drowsiness had passed, I woke up to find her still diligently working on the pile of documents in front of her. Thankfully, she didn't realize I had dozed off while she was so engrossed in her work. Her tireless intellectual and physical work ethic, combined with her agility and intense concentration, was something I believe none of the younger lecturers in the department could match. Sometimes when we're together, I jokingly tell her that the most fitting psychological term for her is "Behavioral Disorder"—meaning she might work so hard she forgets to eat, sleep, and even the time. What's admirable is her unwavering passion for her professional work, which seems to be an innate part of her being.

Professor, Doctor Tran Thi Minh Duc - the first female professor in Psychology/Photo: Thanh Long

From the stories she told about her father, I learned that she was the second daughter of the late writer Tran Thanh Dich. I happened to read an article.Tran Thanh Dich and his four brothers crossed the border.In an article by writer Nguyen Quynh, he wrote about writer Tran Thanh Dich, who was always respected by fellow writers and artists for his character.Honest, generous, forgiving in relationships, unpretentious, and very mature in demeanor.Her father named all four of her sisters Duc, hoping that his children would always value and uphold virtue in their lives and in building the family tradition. Being close to her, I understand that my aunt inherited from her father compassion, forgiveness, acceptance of others, and a witty, optimistic nature. Through her childhood days of helping her father read and transcribe manuscripts filled with errors that he had corrected from authors sent to the publisher, she also learned from him meticulousness, rigor in writing, a scientific writing style, passion, and a serious work ethic.

As a teacher, my aunt belonged to a generation of pioneers who applied new teaching methods, passionately imparting knowledge and a love for the profession to her students. Every student who studied under her left a lasting impression of a teacher who was dedicated to each lesson, with innovative and easy-to-understand teaching methods, a warm and approachable style, and a radiant smile.

In scientific research, my aunt was sensitive to discovering new things, prominent issues in society and in the field of psychology. The monographs she wrote were always timely, with profound theoretical and practical significance. Among them, we cannot fail to mention books such as:Gender bias and discrimination: Theory and practice.(2006);Aggressive behavior - analyses from a socio-psychological perspective.(2010);Violent games and teenagers - analyses from a socio-psychological perspective.(2013);Social media and Vietnamese students(2015). She also contributed to the industry with highly scientific and applied professional training curricula such as:Understanding children's psychology through drawings.(2009)Counseling skills for juvenile offenders(2010)Psychological counseling curriculum(2012), etc…

Embarking on a scientific career, my aunt worked diligently and continuously pursued further education to enhance her expertise. Even after being promoted to Associate Professor (in 2001), she still requested a one-year postdoctoral internship in France (2005) to further deepen her skills and expertise in the field of assisting people with psychological disorders. With her hard work and significant contributions to the field, in 2010, she was awarded the title of Professor of Psychology. She became the first female Professor in Psychology and, to this day, remains the only female Professor in the field. Something she never shared, but which I believe is a source of pride for anyone who has chosen the teaching profession, is that among the seven young PhDs working in the department, my aunt was the principal or co-supervisor for five of them, including me. To date, my aunt has successfully supervised or co-supervised 15 PhD students (including those from external training institutions) and is currently supervising 5 doctoral students. Because of this, and with all the love and respect I have for her, I would like everyone to call me "Aunt Minh Duc's student," even though whenever we are together, she always introduces me as a "colleague." Deep down, I feel I am not yet worthy of that title. Until the end, I will always consider myself her "student," and I love and am proud of that.

Photo: Jackie Chan

Aware that the nature of psychology is not just about research and teaching, but that it is essential for instructors to also hone their practical skills in order to guide students in their profession, for many years, my aunt continuously sought to learn and improve her practical abilities by providing free counseling/therapy to many people who genuinely had psychological difficulties, mainly young people suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, for community projects of non-governmental organizations such as Plan International, UNICEF, etc., she participates in training for support workers on various topics such as: skills in working with delinquent children, sexually abused children, children experiencing school violence, people with HIV/AIDS, women who are victims of violence and trafficking, etc. As an expert knowledgeable in practice and training, she has been invited by many international and domestic organizations to work as a professional supervisor, helping to improve the skills of young people entering the field of psychological support, such as projects to improve skills and supervise counseling for staff working with delinquent children in reform schools nationwide, projects to improve skills and supervise counseling for staff of the national child counseling and support hotline 18001567, etc.

Having been close to her for so many years, I've noticed her humility and respectful attitude when speaking about senior colleagues, her harmonious relationships with her peers, and her dedication to helping younger colleagues. She has always guided us in everything from writing scientific papers and conducting research projects to teaching and mentoring students in their scientific research…

As an intellectual who spent many years of her youth living and studying in Europe, my aunt loves beauty. She has a refined eye and soul, easily perceiving and being moved by beauty. She once confided in me that she greatly respects women who excel in their profession, but she greatly admires women who are not only professionally competent but also possess beauty and high moral standards. And to me, my aunt is a beautiful woman! Her beauty radiates from her demeanor, her intellect, her soul, and even her appearance. If anyone believes that women in science, especially those who succeed in such a demanding field, must inevitably lack family life, then my aunt is proof of success in her career and happiness in her personal life. I enjoy listening to her stories about her two children and the years she spent following them through their childhood. With a mother who was a capable woman from Hue, my aunt inherited all of her mother's strengths, such as resourcefulness and meticulousness in family life. I love the image of her sitting there meticulously mending clothes. Moments like these have left a lasting impression on her family!

Whenever my teacher and I are together, I always feel a mix of happiness and insecurity when someone comments that I look like her, like mother and daughter. Happy because people see me as resembling the teacher I always respect and cherish. Insecure because I feel small in the scientific, ethical, and compassionate sense that is always present in my teacher. Her lessons have stayed with me as a guide to my growth in life. There are times when I am tired, lonely, doubtful, and drowning in tears, and I remember her words:Her father always taught her that whenever she faced difficulties in life, she should tell herself that these were not the greatest challenges yet. Many greater challenges awaited her. Years later, she would look back and laugh at these small difficulties, proud of having overcome them. Looking back, she would laugh at these small challenges and be proud of herself for having overcome them."At those times, I find myself regaining my spirits, finding renewed motivation and self-confidence, allowing me to calmly overcome difficulties."

Having been close to her for nearly 10 years, I am secretly grateful for the circumstances that brought me closer to her. From someone without a clear career direction, especially in teaching psychology, I pursued teaching and research with the passion, enthusiasm, and sense of responsibility that she instilled in me. Deep down, I look to her as a role model and secretly hope to become a second Ms. Minh Duc, both in the field of science and in life.

Hanoi, October 29, 2015.